Safety latch



0a. 4, 1938. T W, MOODY 2,131,899

SAFETY LATCH Filed May 22, 1936 EIN- Patented Oct. 4, 1938 I! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i V SAFETY LATCH I Thomas W. Moody, "llcuston, Tex.

Application May #22, 1936, Serial No. 81,147

This invention relates toa safety latch.

An Object of the invention-is to provide a latch for slidable closures such as slidably mounted windows;

Another-object of theinvention is to provide a safety latch of the character described especially designed to be fastened to the upper sash of'a window and so positionedthat theupper sash or the lower sashmay be-- only partially opened for ventilation, but latched so that they cannot be further opened from the outside.

- Astill further object of the invention resides in the provision of a latch of the character described that may be readily-moved to, and maintained in, inactive position so as to permit the full opening of "the window sashes.

It-is still another object of the invention to provide a latch that will automatically assume active, or latching, position when thewindows are closed.

With the above and other objects in View, the] invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction,operation, and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing-wherein:

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of the latch.

Figure 2 shows a side view.

Figure 3 shows a sectional line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a plan view.

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 shows a front elevation of thelatch as applied to a window, at a suitable elevation,

and r r Figure 7 shows a side view thereof showing the sashes in section.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral I designates an angle plate having the wings 2, 3, turned at right angles to each other. The wing 2 is adapted to fit against the front face of the side frame 4 of an upper sash, and the wing 3 is adapted to fit closely against the inner margin of the side frame 4.

There is a cover plate 5 as seen in Fig. 5, whose upper and lower margins have the dove-tailed connection with the wing 3 as seen in Fig. 1 and may be permanently secured thereto in any preferred manner. The cover plate 5 and wing 3 form a casing in which there is mounted a latch plate 6. This plate is fixed on the stem 1 which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings in the view taken on the 3 Claims. (c1. 292- 219) cover plate 5, and the wing 3 and the outer end of the stem has the grip member 8 by means of which the stem and the plate. 6 may be turned; The plate-Ghas an eccentric pin 9 fastened thereto and extending outwardly therefrom and has the roller 10 on said outwardly extended end. In the casing above and behind the plate 6, there is a transverse anchor post I I about which aspring I2 is coiled. One arm l3, of the spring engages behind a stop l4 projecting outwardly from the wing 3 and its other arm I5 is off-set and formed with an arcuate bearing portion which engages around the roller In, as more accurately shown in Figure 3, the free end of the arm l5 7 being extended beyond the curved bearing por rotation of the plate 6 (see Figures 2 and 5) and r as also shown in Figure 7. This will project the lower margin or latch portion l6 of the plate 6 outwardly into the path of the lower window sash so that when it is attempted to elevate said lower sash, it will eventually engagethe latch portion [6, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 7. As this portion of the plate 6 has a constant radius of curvature, the plate will not be rotated by engagement with the lower sash and hence the device will serve to stop the upward movement of the lower sash. The lower sash may thus be partially opened for ventilation purposes, but, not enough to permit entrance from the outside.

The distance through which the lower sash may be raised will depend on the location of the latch on the upper sash. The latch may be so located as to give the required window opening for safety. The distance to which the upper sash may be lowered will depend also on the location of the latch. Since the latch is secured to the upper sash, any attempt to lower the upper sash will carry the latch downwardly and eventually the lower sash will engage the projecting.

of the openings, the plate 6 may be turned in the opposite direction, to inoperative or tripped position, the roller l riding along the extended free end of the arm l5 and finally seating in the arcuate portion thereof to limit the reverse rotation of the plate 6. When in this position, the upper margin or trip portion ll of the plate 6 will project forwardly beyond the casing; this will allow the sashes to be opened easily, and when the lower sash strikes said trip portion ll, the plate 6 will move into intermediate position. temporarily, both latch and trip portions l6 and I! being approximately flush with the forward.

side of the casing with the forward face of the latch portion l6 riding against the outer side of the upper cross member of the lower sash. When the plate 6 clears the upper side of the cross member, the arm l5 will again force the forward.

face of the latch portion 16 outwardly, (as shown in Figures 2 and '7) where it will remain in this manner, until the sashes are closed to allow the plate 6 to pass back to the upper side of the previously mentioned cross member. The plate 6 is temporarily repressed in the case while passing the cross member, the roller ID will ride along the extended free end of the arm l5 until the plate 6 clears the upper side of the lower sash cross member. The arm l5 will again force the forward face of the latch portion l6 outwardly into latching position as shown in Figures 2 and '7. Thus it will be apparent that the latch is normally in latching or operative position and must be retracted when the window is to be opened a substantial amount but will automatically move to latching position when the window is thereafter closed.

The wing 2 is provided suitable openings, as [8, to receive the fastening screws whereby the latch may be secured to the uppersash or to any other fixed anchor.

What I claim is:

1. A safety latch to limit the relative movement of two window sashes comprising an anchor plate to be fixed to one sash, an irregularly shaped latch plate pivoted on said plate for turning movement transversely of the window, a latch portion on said plate to project into the path of the other sash, spring means normally urging said plate to latching position, a handle member to turn said plate in opposition to said spring to a tripped position so that the sash may be moved beyond the limited position.

2. A safety latch to limit the relative movement of two window sashes comprising an anchor plate to be fixed to one sash, an irregularly shaped latch plate pivoted on said plate for turning movement transversely of the window, a latch portion on said plate to project into the path of the other sash, spring means normally urging said plate to latching position, a handle member to turn said plate in opposition to 'said spring'to a tripped position so that the sash may be moved beyond the limited position, and a trip portion on said plate to be engaged by the movement of the sash so as to trip said latch back to latching position. I

3. A safety latch to limit the relative movement of two window sashes comprising an anchor plate to be fixed to one sash, a latch plate pivoted on said anchor plate for turning movement transversely of the sash, said latch plate having spaced peripheral trip and latch portions, a handle member to turn said latch plate to a tripped position; whereby the sash may be movedbeyond the limited position, and spring means fixing the tripped position of said latch plate when the handle is turned and normally urging saidplate to latching position when displaced from the tripped position.

THOMAS W. MOODY. 

